What's new for online e-services in 2008?

PURPOSE OF BULLETIN

To inform staff of changes we made to the online e-services applications we offer individual taxpayers.

BACKGROUND

We expand and improve our online e-services every year to help reduce taxpayer burden, increase taxpayer access to information, make filing and paying taxes easier, and improve the timeliness and accuracy of tax returns. The enhancements we made for 2008 are described below.

Taxpayers may access all these services from our Website: www.ftb.ca.gov.

READYRETURN

ReadyReturn is a service designed to ease the filing burden for taxpayers who file the simplest tax returns. We use information the state already has (W-2 data and previous returns) to pre-fill a California state tax return.

We began offering this new service January 2, 2008, for the 2007 tax year.

CALFILE

CalFile, our direct, free, e-file service, which approximately 6 million taxpayers qualify to use (including those that use any filing status, itemize their deductions, and claim the Renters or Child and Dependent Care credits), is now available in Spanish as well as English. In addition:

A CSN is no longer required to use CalFile. Instead, taxpayers enter their social security number and their last name to use this service. Their last name must match the last name on our records (normally this is the last name on their 2006 return).

If the taxpayer did not have a tax account as of Dec 31, 2007, they will not be able to access CalFile until they contact FTB.

Registered Domestic Partners (RDPs) can use CalFile as long as they meet the CalFile qualifications.

We added a verification process for bank account and routing numbers to help taxpayers avoid entering incorrect banking information when making a payment request with their return.

Taxpayers can no longer use a self-selected Personal Identification Number (PIN) to sign their return using CalFile. They must sign Form 8453-OL (California Online e-file Return Authorization for Individuals) and retain it for their records. The Form 8453-OL is provided to the taxpayer as part of the CalFile filing process.

MY FTB ACCOUNT

We changed the name of the View Payments and Balance Due application to My FTB Account.

Along with this name change, we expanded the available services. We added the ability for taxpayers and their authorized representatives to view taxpayer’s California wage and withholding data, and FTB-issued 1099-INT and 1099-G information.

ELECTRONIC INSTALLMENT AGREEGMENTS

A CSN is no longer required to use Electronic Installment Agreements (EIA). Now taxpayers enter their social security number and last name to use this service. Their last name must match the last name on our records.

We added a verification process for bank account and routing numbers to help taxpayers avoid entering incorrect banking information with their installment agreement request.